Jolene drove Kathlyn’s car to her apartment. Kathe sat on the back in Matt’s arms. She was no longer sobbing and instead fell in a worrisome silence. They soon arrived at Jolene’s flat.
Jolene invited them in and they sat on her couch. She prepared chamomile tea for the siblings and sat across them on another sofa. Kathlyn was slumped staring at her teacup as if it held the secrets of the universe and her brother looked at her with worried eyes.
Jolene sighed deeply and began talking. “I guess I should begin with introductions, then,” she said. The siblings shifted their attention to Jolene, tilting their heads sideways. “Nice to meet you. I am Jolene Amores, Beta of the Silver Fang Pack and Chief warrior.” She extended her hand toward Matt who timidly shook it. She then moved to Kathlyn who took her hand in her trembling hands.
Jolene smiled warmly at them and gave them a moment to digest the news. The Silver Fang Pack may or may not be one of the strongest. There was a tie between three packs for the title of the strongest pack. However, Lancelot’s pack, the Wild Moon Pack, had not even entered the race.
“I invited you two here to ask you if you would like to train with me.” Jolene tried to sound confident but was a little nervous about their response.
Kathe’s jaw almost reached the floor and Matt shook his head in disbelief.
“But we are omegas; That is impossible,” said Matt.
Jolene smiled at him again.
“Matt, do you know why my pack is one of the strongest out there?”
He nodded vigorously. “Sure. The Alpha family is legendary. The Alpha is always calm and calculating. He never rushes into combat but when he does he hits his enemies before they can even react and ends the battles with quick deliberate blows. Also, his sister. She is extremely powerful… She is the Beta and…” His eyebrows shot up and his eyes widened in realization. He locked eyes with the grinning Jolene in front of him.
She scooted closer and supported her face on one of her hands. “Oh, is she?” She asked playfully.
Matt blushed and looked anywhere but into Jolene’s eyes. She chuckled.
“Are… you serious?” asked Kathlyn stuttering.
Jolene nodded. “So, going back to what I asked. The main reason my pack is one of the strongest is that everyone trains. Even omegas train as much as their capacity allows them to. I worked personally with each werewolf at least once a month to track his or her progress. I want to train you two. If that is OK with you.”
“I would be glad to do so!” said Kathlyn standing up from the couch with her fist pumped. “I do not want to ever feel defenseless against that good-for-nothing again!”
Jolene smiled and stood up to pull her into a hug. “Also, you and I are going out this weekend,” Jolene said as she broke the hug and looked at Kathlyn in the eye with a serious expression. “And you are going to have fun,” she added.
Matt cleared his throat. “With all due respect, Miss Amores. We cannot do any of that without the Alpha’s permission.”
Jolene smirked and walked toward Matt. “Could I borrow your cellphone for a moment, please?”
Matt’s eyebrows furrowed but he gave her his phone anyway.
Jolene dialed his number. The call was connected and the person on the side of the line began talking. “Hey, Matt. Why had you not answered? I needed to talk to you. I gave her the letter but she had not read it. I feel weird.”
Jolene bit her lower lip containing a chuckle. “She will read it soon,” she said. “Do not worry.”
Lancelot gasped. “Jolene? Why are you on Matt’s phone?”
Jolene smiled widely. “I wanted to talk to you actually.”
“Really? What is it?” He sounded hopeful.
“I wanted to ask you for something that only you can do. Could you that for me?” she asked.
“Sure. Ask away.”
She could hear the smile in his voice. “I want to train with Matt and Kathe. That is OK, right?”
He hummed for a moment.
“Lancelot? You are fine with that, right? I just want them to be more confident.”
After a moment Lancelot answered. “You can train with them. I will tell my father later, but he lets me take this kind of decisions. You should be fine.”
Jolene squealed. “Really? Thank you so much. You make me so happy.” She giggled.
“Yes, about the letter. Could you call me when-”
“Oh, I have something to do now. Talk to you later. Bye.” Jolene hung up before he could answer.
Jolene turned to face the siblings. Matt was holding back his laughter and Kathlyn looked confused.
“So I reckon you told him the truth,” said Matt before roaring in laughter.
Jolene feigned shock. “How did you guess?” she asked chuckling.
“He would never let anyone talk to him like that.”
Jolene played with her hair. “I am special.” She noticed Kathlyn’s confusion. “Oh, by the way, Lancelot is my mate,” Jolene said.
Kathlyn gasped and covered her mouth both of her hands.
“Oh Gosh. I am so so sorry Jolene. That must be horrible.”
Matt, who had calmed down, broke into laughter again and soon Jolene joined.
“What?” asked a very shocked Kathlyn.
“I am a big girl, Kathe. Do not worry. He should be the one to fear me.” Jolene winked at her.
“Anyway, do you care for some breakfast?” asked Jolene.
Kathlyn smiled widely. “Sure!”
“I already have plans for today with the guys,” said Matt.
The girls nodded.
“Kathlyn is it OK if he takes your car? I can give you a ride to your house later.”
Kathe nodded and Jolene threw Kathe’s car keys to Matt. He caught them and said goodbye before leaving the room.
“Let’s go, then,” Jolene said as she put on her coat.
Kathe cocked her head to the side.
“I thought we were going to cook something,” she said.
Jolene laughed and laughed and laughed some more as she grabbed her car keys and made her way to the door.
“You are so funny. Let’s go. There is an ihop near the mall. We are going shopping today.”
After having breakfast the girls went to the mall.
“What about this?” Jolene asked showing Kathe some skinny jeans and a black knit sweater.
“You would look beautiful on that.” Jolene giggled. “I am glad you like it, but it is actually for you.”
Kathe’s smiled faded and she clutched her hands. “That would not look good on me. I am too fat.”
Jolene scowled. She would have never guessed that Kathe was hung up over her body shape. Kathe is not skinny, but Jolene thinks she is beautiful.
“Just try it on!” Jolene said as she grabbed more sweaters and black leggings.
Kathe tried on the sweater and the jeans first and she timidly left the fitting room to show Jolene the outfit.
Jolene stared at her intently. “Wait!” she said as she left the dressing room. She came back with some black ankle boots. “Try this on too,” she said.
Kathe looked at her reflection in the mirror in awe.
“Do you like it?” asked Jolene.
Kathe nodded. “Should I ditch my glasses now?”
Jolene giggled. “That is some major BS. If you feel more comfortable with your glasses on, there is no reason to ditch them.”
Kathe smiled. “Good, because I have already tried wearing contacts and they are not my thing.” Jolene gave her a stylish jacket to try on.
“Be honest. Do you like these clothes? You do not have to change your style if you do not want to.”
Kathe laughed. “I hate the clothes I usually wear, actually. But my aunts gave it to me for free. I just began college and do not work. My parents do not give me money to go shopping because they say I already own enough clothes.”
Jolene tapped her chin. “Then why does Matt dresses ‘good’?”
“Nobody gives him clothes and he is daddy’s boy.”
“That is so unfair,” said Jolene. “Go try on the other things.”
Kathe tried on a bunch of other clothes. They chose the cutest ones and Jolene bought them for her. Kathe tried to refuse but gave up once she realized that Jolene was not backing off. They left the mall with enough clothes to fill her closet and a sexy outfit for the weekend. Jolene insisted that she is taking Kathe clubbing the following Saturday. Jolene dropped her off at her house and helped her with her bags. She then returned to her apartment. She checked her cellphone. There were no new messages, so she decided to text Xander.
Jolene 10:23 PM ‘Hey babe. You busy today? Did something happen?’
Xander 10:24 PM ‘Why do you ask?’
Jolene 10:24 PM ‘What do you mean? You are my special person. You text me every day :)’
Xander 10:25 ‘Listen bitch. I do not know who you think you are but stay away from my Alexander.’
Jolene stared at her phone in silence for a couple of minutes. “What the fuck just happened?” she said to herself. She chuckled lowly and threw herself on her bed. “I cannot say I would be surprised if he had other girls.” She sighed and rolled to her side. Her purse was on her nightstand. “Oh, the letter.” She quickly grabbed her purse and took out the letter. Jolene opened the letter and sat on the border of her bed as she read.
Dear Mate,
Today I gave you a lavender rose. Lavender roses represent love at first sight, which is exactly what I should have felt when our eyes locked. However, I did not feel it and hate myself a little for that. I would be lying if I said that I did not find you interesting or amusing, but I did not realize who you are. I thought you saw me as a kid, as you said. Somehow I thought I had something to prove to you, and took the most screwed up route. I want you to know that I am sorry. I understand if you do not find it in your heart to believe my words. I will prove to you that I can be good.
-Lancelot
Jolene threw the letter across the bed and laid down again. She stared at the ceiling. “Anyone can look up some romantic shit on the internet and write a corny letter,” she said. “People do not change in a couple of hours. I will believe once I see proof, until then, nothing changes.” She listened to her heartbreak playlist and sang off-key. She drifted into sleep without noticing it.
Once again Jolene was woken up by her ringing cell phone. She checked the time on her alarm clock. It was 2:26 AM. She grunted and answered without checking the ID caller.
‘What the heck are you calling me for?’ she asked.
‘Well, hello to you too, gorgeous,’ the smooth husky voice on the other side of the line said.
‘Did something happen?’ Her tone showed her annoyance.
‘That is what I should ask. You sound angry. Did he hurt you again, love?’
Jolene scoffed. It seems that whoever answered her texts earlier deleted the evidence. ‘I am fine. I just get grumpy when people wake me up.’ She ran her hand through her hair.
‘I totally get you, beautiful. Sorry for being missing today. There was a pack activity and I forgot to take my cellphone. Then we had an emergency meeting and it extended for a while.’
Oh, I am sure that is it.
‘Really? Was it a very long meeting?’ she asked.
‘It began at 8:00 PM and went on until about 11:30 PM. I was so exhausted afterward that I took a nap until a few minutes ago.’
Jolene chuckled. ‘Oh, I see. Did you forget to take your phone to the meeting as well?’
‘I got it before the meeting to check for texts from you but you had not texted me; I assumed you were busy. I had to turn it off for the meeting. It was a serious matter. You know you are the most important person to me, sorry.’
Jolene put her cellphone on her pillow. She took a few deep breaths to calm herself down. Another one who thinks I am an idiot, she thought. Jolene took her cellphone again.
‘As much as I love talking to you, I am tired today. Goodnight, Alexander.’
‘Wait, I wanted to let you know that I took Friday off as well so I will arrive at your apartment on Thursday night.’
‘Great, just great,’ she said before hanging up.